Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall Announces $700 Million Settlement in Johnson & Johnson Talk Products Case

Montgomery, AL – Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, along with 42 other attorneys general, announced a nationwide $700 million settlement with Johnson & Johnson to resolve allegations related to the marketing of its baby powder and body powder products containing talc . Pending court approval, Alabama will receive $13,458,975 from this settlement.

The consent judgment filed in the lawsuit addresses claims that Johnson & Johnson deceptively promoted and misled consumers regarding the safety and purity of some of its talcum powder products. The company has agreed to cease production and sales of its talc-based baby powder and body powder products in the United States.

“For generations, Johnson & Johnson promoted baby powder as a ‘clinically proven’ product for women and girls. Yet since the 1980s, this same company has been aware of studies showing that their talcum powder products were contaminated with carcinogenic asbestos, increasing the user’s risk of ovarian cancer. Our great bipartisan coalition has investigated and taken appropriate action for knowingly exploiting and misleading consumers,” said Attorney General Marshall. “This settlement cannot undo the harm consumers experience, but it can ensure that no one else is exposed to these dangerous products in the future.”

Johnson & Johnson has been selling these products for more than a hundred years. Following the coalition’s investigation, the company stopped distributing and selling these products in the United States and recently halted worldwide sales. While this lawsuit focused on deceptive marketing, numerous other lawsuits filed by private plaintiffs in class action lawsuits have raised allegations that talc causes serious health problems, including mesothelioma and ovarian cancer.

Under the terms of the consent judgment, Johnson & Johnson has agreed to the following:
– Cease and resume the manufacture, marketing, promotion, sale, and distribution of all baby and body powder products and cosmetic powder products containing talcum powder in the United States.
– Permanently cease production of covered products in the United States, directly or indirectly through a third party.
– Permanently cease marketing and promoting covered products in the United States, directly or indirectly through a third party.
– Permanently discontinue the sale or distribution of covered products in the United States, directly or indirectly through a third party.

Alabama’s share of the settlement will be paid by Johnson & Johnson in four annual installments starting next month. The money will be allocated to consumer protection enforcement and education.

The multi-state settlement was led by Texas, Florida, and North Carolina, with Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine , Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin joins coalition.